Redtravel

We were upset by the crowding on Summit last week. We wore masks and tried to distance. It was impossible in some places. Got off 2 days ago. My spouse tested positive for Covid today. There will not be a next cruise with Celebrity for us.

Off Summit 2 days ago. Not surprisingly, my spouse tested positive today for Covid. We both wore masks and tried to distance. However, with the packed crowds on Summit last week, it was likely to happen.

When booking my last cruise, Always All In was it. Since I am elite plus and not much of a drinker, I asked if I could get a cruise only price. The price difference between All In and cruise only wasn’t much. When you figured that you pay tips either way, the difference was about $80 per couple to go All In. We figured it would be worth it for unlimited internet and drinks whenever we wanted it. In theory, it was worth it. In reality, it wasn’t. The All In internet hardly worked. We used our elite plus minutes most of the time. Drinks were inconsistent. Some drinks not available. We probably got our value in soda and bottled water. We expected more. If it had been a cruise that my TA included tips, cruise only would be best for us.

I had real confidence in Viking. Daily testing was a great safety measure.it gave you reassurance that you had little chance of interacting with infected people. Taking away all testing increases the risks of spreading Covid. Going from all testing to no testing is a bold move. Will wait and see how things play out. Either Viking is very smart or really stupid. Time will tell. For now, I will not book Viking. I will reassess options when I feel comfortable that things have improved.

Nonsense? Covid is real. I know many people who have had it. Some with vaccinations and boosters. Some have long timers. Some died. It’s not nonsense. It’s real and can be deadly. I respect efforts to keep people safe. On my cruise last week, the hoops that I had to do before getting on the ship were time consuming and a bit tricky getting everything accomplished in a timely manner. It was worth it. l would love it if Covid were gone and not a threat. I would like to resume carefree travel like I did before the pandemic. Eliminating testing by a directive of a cruise line is dangerous.

Just off Summit. No daily Captains club cocktail event. You could get drinks from 5-7 in any bar. It wasn’t the same. We really missed the event. Also, even though over 70 people registered for meet and greet, the meet and greet for our roll call wasn’t allowed to happen. Some of the group did meet. It wasn’t the same. We didn’t get any Captains club info until day 4 when we asked about the breakfast. Then we got a printed list of Captains club events. We missed a reception on day 2. Oh well. Breakfast was in Tuscan Grill. We went a few times. It was empty. It was the only time that we interacted with the Captains club host who checked our sea pass each time. I don’t remember her name. Obviously she doesn’t remember mine. Loyalty is not much these days. The only time that I was recognized was at Cafe Al Bacio. We were on classic drink pkg. I asked for an Affogato. It is no longer on menu. Server said that it wasn’t on my drink package. When I questioned it and said that on previous cruises I got it as Elite plus, she asked to see my sea pass. Then she said, “ oh, as elite plus, you can get it.” Sadly, cutbacks are happening.

All In package that includes unlimited WiFi was terrible. It is a scam. You cannot depend on using it. Most of the time, it didn’t work. If it did, it was very slow and often froze. Strangely, we are elite plus and get some free WiFi minutes as a loyalty perk. When the All In WiFi failed, we switched to elite plus minutes and more often could connect.

Unlike most cruises, they didn’t ask us about our plans after the cruise. On last day, we were given luggage tags and told to put our bags out by 10 pm. Like everyone near our cabin, We got tags #30. 30 was listed as departing at 9:30. Asked for lower #. No! If you want to get off earlier, we were told to drag our own bags off. We let them take our bags since we couldn’t move them ourselves. My spouse has a walker. Ship didn’t dock until after 8. When we told to vacate our cabin, we went to deck 4 where we intended to wait. People were crowded, no chairs, many people sitting on floor, etc. we walked off. We waited in the terminal until they unloaded #30 luggage. We were in our car and on our way by 9. On previous Summit cruises into Bayonne, we docked earlier. Don’t know why we docked so late. Good luck getting to your flight.

We noticed in MDR there was no wine menu. Never saw any bottles on tables or the bin with cabin numbers written on bottles of wine. We were asked once what wine we wanted. Got a glass and never was offered a refill. If you wanted something to drink, it was often hard to get the attention of a server.

Travel agents love all cruises.

3 weeks. Frustrating!

They add 20% plus any local taxes. Just off Summit. When we were in Charleston, they added 29%. 20% tip plus 9% sales tax.

We enjoyed the cruise too. We also were very annoyed at the shortages. We never asked for anything exotic. Often were told no. Canadian club, Aperol, diet ginger ale, cranberry juice, cookies, most varieties of Tea Forte in Cafe Al Bacio.,etc. there were so many times that we were told that they didn’t have what we wanted. Add to that the awful internet and crowds. Laundry service was bad. I could go on and on. Perhaps it was too soon to return to cruising. Our next cruise will not be in Celebrity.

Oceania guests usually dress with style. Some Celebrity guests don’t.

Just off Summit. Chic was 2nd night and next to last night. Many people were extremely casual every night. Saw people in MDR in shorts every night. There were also people who dressed up on chic night. Seems that you can wear whatever you want. Have a great cruise.

Off Summit today. Just finished reading the comments on this thread. On ship, getting internet connection was extremely slow or no service. Yesterday when I went to Guest Services to cash out my refundable OBC, I asked about capacity. I was told that were 2300 guests on the ship and full capacity was 2500 guests.

Any doubts, don’t cruise.

I travel on both lines. Both have food that is excellent. Windstar has better service.

I had ultimate confidence in Viking because they tested daily. It made me feel safe. Now that they no longer test, I may not be so quick to book on Viking.

On Summit now. Many tables are very close together. We don’t like that. We insisted that we wanted a table for 2 alone. On first day, make it known and they will accommodate. Dinner we got an assigned table for 2. Lunch and breakfast can be tricky. Just tell them what you want. We did sit inches away twice and hated it. While many people like share tables, we don’t. Not comfortable eating close to strangers especially during a pandemic.

Update. On Summit now. Wine on classic plan is good. Liked the Malbec. Bar drinks vary in size, availability, and liquor content. Best bar is Sunset. Worst is pool deck. Often bars run out of liquor. No Canadian club in Sky lounge? Was told sorry none on ship. Next day, got it in Rendezvous Lounge. Crew is overwhelmed and won’t go to get more stock. All in internet usually doesn’t work. I use my Captains club minutes. In port I used my phone.

On Summit now. Al Bacio has cookies.

Lobster last night was excellent. Food has been good. Have used my veranda more on this cruise than ever before. Enjoy Bermuda. Have been there many times. Was disappointed that our stay was cut by a day. It was weather. It did give us an extra day in Charleston which was good. Sailing has been calm. Loved not cooking. After constantly cooking during the pandemic, not cooking has been the highlight of the cruise. Crew is very nice.obviously they are short handed. They need enough help to service the ship. Entertainment is nice. Especially liked Ocean Beat.

Vaccinations are a must. Testing is a good thing. At least you have some reassurance that most people are negative at the start of your cruise. However, since Celebrity doesn’t test or scan temperatures after that, it’s likely that Covid has made it on to the ship during the cruise. Also, people on the cruise are less likely to keep distance or be Covid cautious. Crowded elevators, shared tables, pushing in lines, etc. happens. Celebrity has its protocols which are good. Sadly, not being followed by many passengers. Sailing now and will test after I disembark. Just hope that I haven’t picked up Covid.

Same old menus. Buffet has fewer choices. Food is good, but dull.